Samuel Shank

As printed in 1882

SAMUEL SHANK, farmer, P. 0. Johnsville, born in Perry Township January 15, 1819, is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Noffsinger) Shank, he a native of Virginia and she of Pennsylvania. He was born in February, 1784, was raised and grew to manhood in his native State, and in the fall of 1808 he emigrated to Ohio and located in Montgomery County, where he married in 1810 and located on the farm where he still resides, and has made a continued residence of seventy-two years, and all since his marriage, which is probably unprecedented in the history of any other man in the county. His wife died January 10, 1862, since which he has remained a widower and has resided with his son. They had twelve children; seven now survive — Daniel, Samuel, Susanna, Henry, Eliza, Catharine and Elizabeth. This is a sketch of one of the true pioneers of the county, opening out right in the woods, living the real log cabin life. The neighbors were few and far between, when they had to go several miles to assist each other in raising their cabins, and Mr. Shank was always sent for, from far and near, to act as a “cornerman,” he being one of the most experienced and muscular men of that day. He is now past ninety-eight years of age; has lived to see vast changes take place in this county; has seen the vast forests disappear and fine fields of having grain grow in their stead; the rude and primitive log cabins supplanted by large and commodious brick and frame houses; the old wooden mold-board plows and other clumsy and imperfect implements to pass from use, and fine steel and sulky plows and machinery of the most improved kinds brought into use to do the work of the farmers with ease and comfort; in fact, has seen nearly all of his cotemporaries pass away from the stage of action to that world “from whose bourne no traveler e’er returns,” and still he is here, and, should the “ Reaper Death ” spare his life two or three years longer, will have seen one hundred summers come and go; but whether he be summoned away sooner or later, the records of his long, upright and useful life can never be effaced from the pages of history or the kind remembrance of his posterity. Our subject was married, September 14, 1843, to Miss Anna Heck, by whom he had three children — David, Samuel N. and John A. His wife died November 6, 1862. Ou May 31, 1863, he was married to Mary C. Young, by whom he had three children, two now living — William T. and Susan Flora. His second wife died February 8, 1872. On March 30, 1873, he was married to Sarah C., daughter of Abraham and Mary F. Brandenburg, natives of Maryland; issue, three children — Althea B., Mary Elizabeth and Jacob A. Mr. Shank spent the first five years of his married life at home with his father; thence, in the fall of 1848, bought and located where he now lives and has since resided — a period of thirty-two years. This farm he purchased of David Leslie. It now consists of seventy-six acres, upon which he has erected all the buildings; has good improvements, a good farm and a pleasant home. Mr. Shank and wife are members of the United Brethren Church.

As printed in The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county; (1882). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.